Wilhelm reinhard



No. 627,463. Patented lune 20, I899.

W. REINHARD.

KEYHOLE GUARD.

(Application filed July 20, .1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

VVILHELM REINHARD, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

KEYHOLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,463, dated June 20, 1899.

Application filed July 20, 1898. Serial No. 686,475. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWVILHELM REINHARD, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom My invention relates to an improvement in keyhole-guards, and has for its object to provide a substitute for the solid escutcheons or guards at present in use so constructed that a simple pressure of the key will suffice to open it, thus obviating the necessity of using more than one hand.

In the accompanying drawings are shown by way of illustration three constructions embodying this invention, of which Figure 1 is a front view of one form of escutcheon closed, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same on its open position. Fig. 3 shows a second form closed, and Fig. 4: the third form open.

a and I) are the two halves of the shield, pivoted, respectively, at cand d.

e is a concave depression formed in the front of the shield a b.

When the key is thrust into the cavity e, the two halves of the shield will part from each other and leave free way for the key to pass into the lock. The one of the two halves may be provided at the back, near the foundation-plate h, with a projecting or engaging tongue f, which takes into a corresponding groove g on the other half of the shield, thus inclosing the projecting part f when the two halves a and b are closed and rendering it impossible to see through the keyhole.

The two halves of the shield may also, as shown in Fig. 3, be mounted upon a common pivot is.

withdrawn, are drawn together again. two edges of the halves a and I) therefore re- To automatically return the two halves of the shield to their closed position when this is not effected by their own weight, there may be provided a spring or springs upon the com mon pivot k or upon both pivots c and d in any convenient position, said springs serving when the key is withdrawn from the lock to draw the plates together.

In a further modification, Fig. 4, of this escutcheon the two halves when the key is thrust into the lock move outward horizontally on parallel guides l and m, and by a suit able spring device h, after the key has been The main parallel to each other.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A keyhole-guard, formed in two parts adapted to separate centrally and to move laterally to uncover a keyhole, said parts having each a central sloping surface forming when closed, a key-guidin g concavity adapted to receive the key end and thereby to separate the parts.

2. A keyhole-guard formed in two parts adapted to separate centrally and to move laterally to uncover the keyhole, said parts having eacha central sloping surface forming when closed, a key-guiding concavity adapted to receive the key end and thereby to separate the parts, and a spring adapted to draw the parts together.

3. A keyhole-guard formed in two parts hinged at one end and normally covering the keyhole, said parts having central cam or sloping surfaces adapted to be engaged by the key and to swing the parts sidewise to uncover the keyhole.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

W'ILHELM REINHARD.

Witnesses:

HENRY I-IASPER, O. H. DAY. 

